No Clear Challenger to Mayor Baek of People Power Party
Democratic Party's Kim Jinho, Former Council Chairman; Kim Hyungdo, Former Provincial Assembly Member; Seo Won, Nonsan City Council Member; and Oh Inhwan, Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member Mentioned as Potential Candidates
(From left) Baek Seonghyun, Nonsan Mayor, Kim Jinho, Former Chairman of Nonsan City Council, Kim Hyungdo, Former Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member, Seo Won, Nonsan City Council Member, Oh Inhwan, Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member
With the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3, 2025, the pace of potential candidates for the Nonsan mayoral race in Chungnam is accelerating.
While the current mayor, Baek Seonghyun, is virtually confirmed to run for re-election, the Democratic Party is expected to hold a fierce primary as multiple candidates are being discussed.
According to the local political community on June 10, the People Power Party currently has no prominent challenger emerging besides Mayor Baek Seonghyun. As a result, it is widely expected that Mayor Baek will consolidate his support base and systematically pursue his re-election campaign.
In contrast, within the Democratic Party, four figures?Kim Jinho, former Chairman of Nonsan City Council; Kim Hyungdo, former Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member; Seo Won, Nonsan City Council Member; and Oh Inhwan, Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member?are being mentioned as potential candidates, either self-nominated or recommended by others. Political observers are closely watching to see if the Democratic Party can reclaim the mayoral seat depending on the outcome of the primary.
Additionally, there is a possibility that candidates from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the Reform New Party may also enter the race, raising the prospect of a multi-candidate contest. Depending on changes in the political landscape, a four-way race could become a reality.
Nonsan was once considered a conservative stronghold, but after Hwang Myungseon of the Democratic Party was elected mayor in 2010 and served three terms, progressive influence grew stronger. However, with Baek Seonghyun's victory in the 2022 local elections, conservative forces have regained attention, leading many to view this upcoming election as a rematch between conservatives and progressives.
Mayor Baek is expected to appeal for the necessity of his re-election by emphasizing the continuity and completion of major policies promoted during the 8th term of local government, such as the stable establishment of Nonsan as a national defense city.
Some in the region speculate that if Mayor Baek succeeds in winning a second term, he may run in the 23rd National Assembly election, which could have a significant impact on the future political schedule.
Among the Democratic Party candidates, Kim Jinho, the former council chairman, lost in the last local election but is expected to run again, leveraging his long legislative career and high name recognition as he actively engages with the local community.
Kim Hyungdo, the former assembly member, is solidifying his local base by drawing on his experience as Chairman of Nonsan City Council and Chungnam Provincial Assembly Member. Seo Won, the city council member, is highlighting his youthful leadership, having served as both the youngest and highest-vote-winning city council member and chairman.
Oh Inhwan, the provincial assembly member, has already expressed his intention to run for mayor and is working to expand his recognition throughout the region.
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